diff --git a/tests/apitest_shared.py b/tests/apitest_shared.py
index 5fd742b..3840109 100644
--- a/tests/apitest_shared.py
+++ b/tests/apitest_shared.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 import os
+
+from functools import lru_cache
+
 import pytest
 
 from personio_py import Personio, PersonioError
@@ -8,25 +11,15 @@
 CLIENT_SECRET = os.getenv('CLIENT_SECRET')
 personio = Personio(client_id=CLIENT_ID, client_secret=CLIENT_SECRET)
 
-shared_test_data = {}
 
 # deactivate all tests that rely on a specific personio instance
 try:
     personio.authenticate()
     can_authenticate = True
-    # This is used to ensure the test check for existing objects
-    test_employee = personio.get_employees()[0]
-    shared_test_data = {
-        'test_employee': {
-            'id': test_employee.id_,
-            'first_name': test_employee.first_name,
-            'last_name': test_employee.last_name,
-            'email': test_employee.email,
-            'hire_date': test_employee.hire_date
-        }
-    }
 except PersonioError:
     can_authenticate = False
 skip_if_no_auth = pytest.mark.skipif(not can_authenticate, reason="Personio authentication failed")
 
-
+@lru_cache(maxsize=1)
+def get_test_employee():
+    return personio.get_employees()[0]
diff --git a/tests/test_api_raw.py b/tests/test_api_raw.py
index 4adf618..557bce0 100644
--- a/tests/test_api_raw.py
+++ b/tests/test_api_raw.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from .apitest_shared import *
+from tests.apitest_shared import *
 
 
 @skip_if_no_auth